Hair Colorant Assessment, Selection And Formulation System

ABSTRACT

A hair colorant selection and formulation system including one or more of a hair color analyzer operable to determine hair color of a hair sample and match the determined hair color to a color in a color space, a hair color selector operable in combination with a fiber optic hair sample to generate the color selected in a color space in the optical fibers of a fiber optic hair sample, and a hair colorant mixer which operates to mix a hair colorant, which can be individually, or in various combinations, operably coupled to one or more computing devices through one or more server computers via a network which supports a hair colorant selection and hair colorant formulation program accessible by the one or more computing devices.

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A hair colorant selection and formulation system including one or moreof a hair color analyzer operable to determine hair color of a hairsample and match the determined hair color to a color in a color space,a hair color selector operable in combination with a fiber optic hairsample to generate the color selected in a color space in the opticalfibers of a fiber optic hair sample, and a hair colorant mixer whichoperates to mix a hair colorant, which can be individually, or invarious combinations, operably coupled to one or more computing devicesthrough one or more server computers via a network which supports a haircolorant selection and hair colorant formulation program accessible bythe one or more computing devices.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A broad object of particular embodiments of the invention can be toprovide a system and method of using in a system one or more of a haircolor analyzer operable to determine hair color of a hair sample andmatch the determined hair color to a color in a color space, a haircolor selector operable in combination with a fiber optic hair sample togenerate the color selected in a color space in the optical fibers of afiber optic hair sample, and a hair colorant mixer which operates to mixa hair colorant, which can be individually, or in various combinations,operably coupled to one or more computing devices through one or moreserver computers via a network which supports a hair colorant selectionand hair colorant formulation program accessible by the one or morecomputing devices.

Another broad object of particular embodiments of the invention can beto provide a hair analyzer and methods of making and using a hairanalyzer including at least one light emitter which emits visible lightreflected by a shell having a reflective interior surface extending to ashell outer edge which connects to an annular base having an annularbase inner edge defining an optical aperture about which an optical tubeextends and delivers the visible light onto a hair sample at an angletheta, whereby light reflected from the substrate passes through a lightreceiving tube to a first color detector to detect said visible lightreflected from said substrate. A controller responsive to user actuationoperates the at least one light emitter driver circuit to controlemission of the visible light from the at least one light emitter, andreceives and converts color data generated by the first color detectorto a color in a color space to provide an analyzed hair color.

Another broad object of the invention can be to provide a hair colorselector and methods of making and using a hair color selector includingat least one light emitter configured to emit a visible light having acolor selected by a user in a color space through an optical tube toallow viewing of a selected hair color by the user. In particularembodiments, the optical tube can be configured to receive a fiber optichair sample, wherein said visible light incident upon said fiber optichair sample travels through an optical fiber bundle to illuminate theoptic fiber bundle at the selected hair color.

Another broad object of the invention can be to provide a fiber optichair sample and methods of making and using a fiber optic hair sampleincluding an optical fiber bundle including a plurality of opticalfibers which can resemble hair and an optical fiber bundle holder havingan internal surface configured to hold the optical fiber bundle and anexternal surface configured to engage a hair color selector including atleast one light emitter configured to emit a visible light of a selectedhair color, wherein said visible light incident upon said fiber optichair sample travels through an optical fiber bundle to illuminate theoptic fiber bundle at the selected hair color.

Another broad object of the invention can be to provide a hair colorantmixer and methods of making and using a hair colorant mixer including aplurality of vessels each configured to contain one of a plurality ofhair colorant constituents, the hair colorant constituents including oneor more of: a primary intermediate, a coupler, an oxidizing agent, andan alkalinizing agent, and combinations thereof, which can be deliveredto a collection container through a conduit defining a flow path betweeneach of the plurality of vessels and the collection container, whereinthe conduit includes one or more vessel valves switchable between avalve closed condition interrupting delivery of said hair colorantconstituent through said flow path and an open condition allowingdelivery of a hair colorant constituent through said flow path from avessel to the collection container, and a hair colorant mixer controllerresponsive to a hair colorant formula to operate the one or more vesselvalves to deliver each the hair colorant constituents based on the haircolorant formula to the collection container to produce a hair colorantwhich combined with a hair color of user results in a selected haircolor selected by the user.

Another broad object of the invention can be to provide a non-transitorycomputer readable medium containing a program code executable togenerate a hair colorant formula of a hair colorant based on color dataassociated with an analyzed hair color of a hair sample of a user and aselected hair color of the user, wherein the program code functions todetermine a ratio of underlying pigments associated with said analyzedhair color and correlates the ratio of underlying pigments of theanalyzed hair color to a ratio of primary intermediates and a ratio ofcouplers in a hair colorant which upon reaction and in combination withthe ratio of underlying pigments associated with said analyzed haircolor results in the user selected hair color, and can further functionto determine a level of difference between the analyzed hair color andthe selected hair color, and thereafter, correlates the level ofdifference to a concentration of an oxidizing agent to admix with saidratio of primary intermediates and said ratio of couplers in said haircolorant, and to a concentration of an alkalinizing agent in said haircolorant containing the concentration of oxidizing agent and the ratioof primary intermediates and the ratio of couplers to achieve a neutralor alkaline pH of said hair colorant, and can further function todetermine the concentration of the alkalinizing agent in the haircolorant to alter a penetration level of the hair colorant in the hair,and to determine the concentration of the alkalinizing agent in the haircolorant to achieve a hair pigment removal level of the underlying hairpigments from said hair.

Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughoutother areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an illustrative computer means, networkmeans and computer-readable media which provides computer-executableinstructions to implement an embodiment of and a method of using thesystem.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of a particular embodiment of a hair coloranalyzer having a closure which operates between an open condition and aclosed condition over a hair sample.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the particular embodiment of the hair coloranalyzer.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the particular embodiment of the haircolor analyzer.

FIG. 5 is a first end elevation view of the particular embodiment of thehair color analyzer.

FIG. 6 is second end elevation view of the particular embodiment of thehair color analyzer.

FIG. 7 is first side elevation view of the particular embodiment of thehair color analyzer.

FIG. 8 is a second side elevation view of the particular embodiment ofthe hair color analyzer.

FIG. 9 is a cross section view 9-9 of the particular embodiment of thehair color analyzer depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment a hair color selectorhaving a closure which operates between an open condition to receive afiber optic hair sample and a closed condition.

FIG. 11 is a cross section view 11-11 of the hair color selectordepicted in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged portion of as shown in FIG. 11 which depicts aportion of an optical fiber.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a particular embodiment of a fiberoptic hair sample.

FIG. 14 is a first side elevation view of the particular embodiment ofthe fiber optic hair sample.

FIG. 15 is a second side elevation view of the particular embodiment ofthe fiber optic hair sample.

FIG. 16 is a first end view of the particular embodiment of the fiberoptic hair sample.

FIG. 17 is a second end view of the particular embodiment of the fiberoptic hair sample.

FIG. 18 is a third side elevation view of the particular embodiment ofthe fiber optic hair sample.

FIG. 19 is a fourth side elevation view of the particular embodiment ofthe fiber optic hair sample.

FIG. 20 is a cross section view 20-20 of the particular embodiment ofthe fiber optic hair sample shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 21 illustrates login menu of a particular embodiment of a graphicaluser interface depicted on a display surface of a computing device.

FIG. 22 illustrates a setup menu of a particular embodiment of agraphical user interface depicted on a display surface of a computingdevice including hair categories selectable to allow entry by userindication of hair category values.

FIG. 23 illustrates a setup menu page including a hair length categorywhich by user indications allows entry of hair length values.

FIG. 24 illustrates a setup menu page including a hair type categorywhich by user indications allows entry of hair type values.

FIG. 25 illustrates a setup menu page including a hair thicknesscategory which by user indications allows entry of hair thicknessvalues.

FIG. 26 illustrates a setup menu page including a hair density categorywhich by user indications allows entry of hair density values.

FIG. 27 illustrates a setup menu page including a hair porosity categorywhich by user indications allows entry of hair porosity values.

FIG. 28 illustrates a setup menu page including a hair sheen categorywhich by user indications allows entry of hair sheen values.

FIG. 29 illustrates a setup menu page including a hair health categorywhich by user indications allows entry of hair health values.

FIG. 30 illustrates a setup menu page including an embodiment of a colorspace representation of a color space including color selection panel.

FIG. 31 illustrates a setup menu page including another embodiment of acolor space representation of a color space including swatch color book.

FIG. 32 illustrates an embodiment of a color space representation of acolor space including color selection panel which by user indicationssaves a selected color in the color space representation.

FIG. 33 is a block flow diagram of a particular embodiment of a haircolorant mixer.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Generally, with reference to FIGS. 1 through 33, the invention relatesto a hair colorant selection and formulation system (1) (also referredto as the “system”) which can include one or more of: a hair coloranalyzer (2) operable to determine hair color (3) of a hair sample (4)and match the determined hair color (3) to a color (5) in a color space(6), a hair color selector (7) operable in combination with a fiberoptic hair sample (8) to generate the color (5) selected in a colorspace (6) in the optical fibers (9) of a fiber optic hair sample (8),and a hair colorant mixer (10) which operates to mix a hair colorant(11), which can be individually, or in various combinations, operablycoupled to one or more computing devices (12) through one or more servercomputers (13) via a public network (14) such as the Internet (15), acellular-based wireless network(s) (16), or a local network (17)(individually or collectively the “network (13)”). The network (14)supports a hair colorant selection and hair colorant formulation program(18) (also referred to as the “program (18)”) accessible by browserbased on-line processing or downloadable by the one or more computingdevices (12). The program (18) coordinates communication between the oneor more computing devices (12) to establish on-line or off-line wired orwireless connection with one or more of the hair color analyzer (2), thehair color selector (7), and the hair colorant mixer (10) to allow auser (19), by user indications (20) in a graphical user interface (21),to perform a method including: analyzing hair color (3) of a hair sample(4), selecting a hair color (3) as a color (5) in a color space (6),generating color (5) in the optical fibers (9) of a fiber optic hairsample (8), formulating a hair colorant (11); mixing a hair colorant(11) by operation of the hair colorant mixer (10), obtaining the haircolorant (11) from the hair colorant mixer (10); and applying the haircolorant (11) to the hair (22) resulting in a change in the hair color(3) to accurately match the color (5) selected by the user (19) by userindications (20) in the color space (6) depicted on the graphical userinterface (21).

Now with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 through 11, embodiments ofthe invention can include a hair color analyzer (2) (as shown in theexample of FIGS. 2 through 9) and a hair color selector (7) (as shown inFIGS. 10 through 11) which can comprise discrete devices or comprise anintegrated unit (2, 7) (as shown in the example of FIGS. 1 and 11).

The integrated unit (2, 7) can include a light emitter (23) operable toemit light (24) within a pre-determined segment, or user selectedsegment, of the electromagnetic spectrum (25), or at one or morepre-determined or user selected wavelength frequencies (26) orwavelength amplitudes (27) to illuminate a hair sample (4) for analysisof hair color (3) or illuminate a fiber optic hair sample (8) togenerate a color (5) in the optical fibers (9) selected within a colorspace (6). Typically, the segment of the electromagnetic spectrum (25)will occur in the visible spectrum (VS) that is visible to the humaneye. The emitted light (24) can have one or more pre-determined or userselected wavelength frequencies (26) or wavelength amplitudes (27)occurring in the range of about 380 nanometers to about 750 nanometers;however, this does not preclude embodiments in which the pre-determinedwavelength frequencies (26) occur outside of the visible spectrum (VS)such as near ultraviolet (NUV), ultraviolet (UV), near infrared (NIR),and infrared (IR), or combinations of wavelength frequencies (26) insideand outside of the visible spectrum (VS). The emitted light (24) can beused to illuminate hair samples (4) for analysis of hair color (3) or toilluminate a fiber optic hair sample (8) to generate in the opticalfibers (9) a color (5) selected in a color space (6), the color space(6) including as examples: RGB color space (for example, in hexadecimalformat), HSL color space, CIE 1931 XYZ color space which may beconverted into HTML, CMYK, or PANTONE® units. Color attributes (28) ofthe emitted light (24) can be adjusted, the color attributes (28)including any primary color (red, green, or blue), any combination oftwo primary colors, or adjustment to the primary colors, or combinationsof primary colors, including adjustment of brightness, saturation, hue,tint, tone, or shade, and combinations thereof.

Now, with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 through 11, the hair coloranalyzer (2), the hair color selector (7) or the integrated unit (2, 7)includes at least one light emitter (23) adapted to emit light (24)within the predetermined or selected segment of the electromagneticspectrum (25), or at one or more pre-determined or user selectedwavelength frequencies (26) or wavelength amplitudes (27). In particularembodiments, the light emitter (23) can be a solid-state light emittingelement formed from organic or inorganic semiconductor materials. Asillustrative examples, the light emitter (23) can be a light emittingdiode (“LED”)(29) including all types of semiconductor diode devicesthat are capable of receiving an electrical signal and producing aresponsive output of electromagnetic energy. Thus, the term “LED” shouldbe understood to include light emitting diodes (29) of all types, lightemitting polymers, organic diodes, and the like; however, theillustrative example of the use of LED light emitters is not intended topreclude other types of light emitters adapted for, capable of, orconfigured to emit light (24) within the predetermined or selectedsegment of the electromagnetic spectrum (25).

In the illustrative example of FIG. 9, the integrated unit (2, 7) can,but need not necessarily, include a light emission integration shell(30) having a reflective interior surface (31) extending to a shellouter edge (32) and an annular base (33). An annular base outer edge(34) can join to the shell outer edge (32) defining a shell interiorspace (35) having an optical aperture (36) defined by an annular baseinner edge (37). Depending on the embodiment, the annular base (33) cancarry one or a plurality of light emitters (23). As one illustrativeexample, the annular base (33) can carry a plurality of controllable LEDlight emitters (29) (red (R), green (G) and blue (B)), or controllableLED light emitters (29) emitting a full or broad spectrum of visiblelight inclusive of all the wavelengths of visible spectrum (VS). In anintegrated unit (2, 7), the plurality of light emitters (23) can includeboth controllable LED (29) RGB light emitters (23′) and LED (29) full orbroad-spectrum light emitters (23″). The one or the plurality of lightemitters (23) mounted on the annular base (33) can emit light (24) ontothe reflective interior surface (31) of the light emission integrationshell (30). The color attributes (28) of the emitted light (24) relateto the emitted wavelength frequencies (26) and wavelength amplitude(27). The emitted light (24) from the one or plurality of light emitters(23) can be diffusely reflected and combined within light emissionintegration shell (30) to form an integrated light (24′) for emissionthrough the optical aperture (36). Such integration, for example, maycombine light from a plurality of light emitters (23) to form arelatively Lambertian distribution across the optical aperture (36) withthe visible intensity spread substantially uniformly across the opticalaperture (36), rather than exhibiting pixilation.

At least a portion of the reflective interior surface (31) of the lightemission integration shell (30) can exhibit a diffuse reflectivity ofthe integrated light (24′) from the one or the plurality of lightemitters (23) directed through the optical aperture (36). The reflectiveinterior surface (31) of the light emission integration shell (30) canbe any of a wide variety of configurations adapted to diffuse theemitted light (24) and reflect the diffused and reflected emitted light(24) as integrated light (24′) through the optical aperture (36). Theillustrative example of FIG. 9, depicts a cross-section of an embodimentof an integrated unit (2, 7) including a light emission integrationshell (30) having a hemispherical or semi-cylindrical reflectiveinterior surface (31) which diffuses and reflects the emitted light (24)through the optical aperture (36). Regardless of the configuration ofthe reflective interior surface (31) which may vary to integrate andreflect the emitted light (24) through the optical aperture (36), it maybe desirable that the reflective interior surface have a highlyefficient reflective characteristic (a reflectivity equal to or greaterthan 90%) with respect to the predetermined or selected segment of theelectromagnetic spectrum (25). In particular embodiments, the entirereflective interior surface (31) can be diffusely reflective, or one ormore portions may be diffusely reflective while other portion(s) of thereflective interior reflective surface (31) may afford specularreflection. In particular embodiments, the light emission integrationshell (30) can be formed of a diffusely reflective plastic material,such as a polypropylene or polystyrene plastic having both reflectiveand diffuse reflective properties. Alternatively, the reflectiveinterior surface (31) can comprise a rigid substrate with a diffuselyreflective coating layer (38) to provide the diffusely reflectiveinterior surface (31) of the light emission integration shell (30). Thereflective coating layer (38), can for example, comprise a flat-whitepaint or white powder coat. Light from each light emitter (23) diffuselyreflects at least once inside the light emission integration shell (30)before emission as part of the integrated light (24′) that emergesthrough the optical aperture (36).

Again, with primary reference to FIG. 9, in particular embodiments, theannular base (33) can further carry a first color detector (39) todetect the color attributes (28) of the emitted light (24) or integratedlight (24′) diffusely reflected from within the shell interior space(35) of the light emission integration shell (30). The first colordetector (39) can detect color attributes (28) of the integrated light(24′) in the light emission integration shell (30). As an illustrativeexample, the first color detector (39) can be an RGB color detector(39′). The RGB color detector (39′) can include an array of photodiodeswith a portion of the photodiodes having blue filters, a portion havinggreen filters, a portion having red filters and a portion having nofilter which detects white light. The first color detector (39) can inthe alternative be a true color sensor (39″) suitable for use with broadspectrum white light emitters (23″).

In particular embodiments, the annular base (33) can engage or comprisea printed circuit board (“PCB”) (40). The PCB (40) can have one or aplurality of light emitter openings (41) which receive a correspondingone or plurality of light emitters (23), such as LEDs (29), and can haveone or a plurality of color detector openings (42) which correspondinglyreceive the one or more color detectors (39)(39′)(39″), such as thefirst color detector (39). In particular embodiments, the PCB (40) cancomprise an annular PCB (40′) having a PCB outer annular edge (40″)mounted to the shell outer edge (32) of the light emission integrationshell (30) and a PCB inner annular edge (40″) defining the opticalaperture (36). The PCB (40) includes an integrated circuit (43)including a controller (44) responsive to color data (45) generated bythe program (18) in response to pre-determined or selected colorattributes (28) and responsive to a first detector signal (45′)generated by the first color detector(s) (39) to detected colorattributes (28) of the diffusedly reflected integrated light (24′)within the shell interior space (35) of the light emission integrationshell (30). The controller (44) can convert the first detector signal(45′) to color data (45) and controls an electronic data exchanger (46)to exchange color calibration data (47) and color data (45) with aserver computer (13) or computing device (12). The electronic dataexchanger (46) can be in the form of a universal serial bus (47), or awireless radio frequency transmitter (48) to afford wired or wirelessconnection or pairing of the controller (44) with one or a plurality ofcomputing devices (12) over a short-range radio frequency band (49) tocarry a signal (50) over all or a part of a communication path (51)between the hair color analyzer (2), a hair color selector (7), or theintegrated unit (2, 7) and the computing device (12). The short-rangefrequency band (49) can include as illustrative examples: BLUETOOTH®(49′) which operates at frequencies of about 2402 MHz to about 2480 MHzor about 2400 MHz to about 2483.5 MHz or WI-FI® (49″) which operates atabout 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. The controller (44) can also govern powermanagement to measure and allocate voltages of a power source (52). Inparticular embodiments, a battery charging circuit (53) can be coupledto a battery (54), such as, a 5 Volt (“V”) battery, a 9 V battery or 12V battery (or 110 Volt alternating current transformed to direct currentto operate the hair color analyzer (2), the hair color selector (7), theintegrated unit (2, 7), or charge the battery (54)). The controller (44)in coordination with the electronic data exchanger (46) can furtheroperate to transmit a battery status notification (55′) to the computingdevice (12).

Now, with primary reference to FIGS. 1, 9 and 11, the hair coloranalyzer (2), the hair color selector (7), or the integrated unit (2,7), can further include an optical tube (55) having an optical tubefirst end (56) disposed about and extending outward from the annularbase inner edge (37) (or PCB inner annular edge (40″) and away from thereflective interior surface (31) to terminate in an optical tube secondend (57). While the embodiments shown in the Figures dispose the opticaltube longitudinal axis (58) in substantially orthogonal relation to theannular base (33), this is not intended to preclude embodiments in whichthe optical tube (55) extends at other angles to the annular base (33).Emitted light (24) diffusedly reflected by the reflective interiorsurface (31) passes through the optical aperture (36) and through theoptical tube (55) to be emitted from the optical tube second end (57).Emitted light (24) including a full or broad spectrum of visible light(23″) can be used to illuminate a hair sample (4) for hair coloranalysis or to illuminate a fiber optic hair sample (8) to generatecolor (5) in the optical fibers (9). In particular embodiments, theoptical tube (55) can be configured to direct the emitted light (24) atthe optical tube second end (57) in an angular relationship theta (0) toa hair sample (4) or the fiber optic hair sample (8). The angularrelationship theta (0) can result in illumination of the hair sample (4)or the fiber optic hair sample (8) at an angle in a range of about 40°to about 50°, and in particular embodiments close to 45° within therange, or at 45°. In particular embodiments, the optical tube (55)proximate the optical tube second end (57) can in part include one ormore angled sidewall(s) (58), as an illustrative example, an opticaltube part (58′) proximate the optical tube second end (57) can formed asa truncated cone (58″) to reflect the emitted light (34) passing throughoptical tube (55) at an angle (θ) to the optical tube longitudinal axis(58) to direct the emitted light (24) in angular relationship theta (θ)to the hair sample (4) or the fiber optic hair sample (8). The opticaltube second end (57), can, but need not necessarily include an opticaltube closure (58 a) which can operate to hold the hair sample (4)proximate the optical tube second end (57). The optical tube closure (58a) can include closure reflective layer (58 b) which can comprise aflat-white paint or white powder coat.

Now, with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 9, particular embodiments ofthe hair color analyzer (2) or the integrated unit (2, 7) can furtherinclude a second color detector (59) disposed in a second color detectoropening (60) located in the light emission integration shell (30)opposite the optical aperture (36). Typically, the second color detector(59) will be disposed in the second color detector opening (60) willsubstantially align with the central optical tube longitudinal axis(58). A reflected light receiving tube (61) can have a light receivingtube first end (62) disposed about the second color sensor opening (60)and outwardly extending away from the reflective interior surface (31)to terminate in a light receiving tube second end (63) disposed withinthe optical aperture (36) or within the optical tube (55). A portion ofa full spectrum emitted light (W) reflected from the hair sample (4)disposed at or proximate the optical tube second end (57) can passthrough the light receiving tube (61) to the second color detector (59).The second color detector (59) can operate to receive reflected light(24″) from the illuminated hair sample (4) and to generate a seconddetector signal (45″) which varies based on the color attributes (28) ofthe reflected light (24″). The second detector signal (45″) can bereceived by the controller (44) and converted to color data (45) whichcan be transmitted by the electronic data exchanger (46) to the servercomputer (13) or a computing device (12) and by operation of the program(18) the color data (45) can be converted to a color (5) in the colorspace (6). The hair color (3) of the hair sample (4) can be depicted inthe graphical user interface (21) of the computing device (12). The haircolor (3) determined by the hair color analyzer (2) can be achievedautomatically with a repeatable accuracy and precision that cannot bemade by visualization and matching to a color (5) in the color space (6)because each person may attribute different color attributes (28) to thesame hair sample (4)(due to environmental conditions surrounding a user(19) or eyesight of a user (19)), while the hair color analyzer (2) candetermine for the same hair sample (4) the same color (5) whether withinthe same color space (6) or correlated between different color spaces(6) regardless of the environmental conditions or which one of aplurality of users (19) operate the hair color analyzer (2).

Again, with primary reference to FIGS. 1, 9 and 11, particularembodiments of the hair color selector (7) or the integrated unit (2, 7)can further include a control circuit (64) electrically coupled to thelight emitter(s) (24) operable to adjust emitted light color attributes(28). The control circuit (64) typically includes a power source circuit(65) coupled to the power source (52). The control circuit (64) alsoincludes an appropriate number of light emitter driver circuits (66) forcontrolling the power applied to each of the different light emitters(23), and thus the wavelength amplitude (27) for each differentwavelength frequency (26). In the example of LEDs (29), the amount ofpower supplied to each of a plurality of LED driver circuits (66)controls of the intensity of emission of the corresponding LEDs (29) toestablish the color attributes (28) of the emitted light (24) from eachLED (29) and thus the color attributes (28) of the diffusedly reflectedintegrated light (24′) passing through the optical aperture (36) andthrough the optical tube (55). In the illustrative example, thewavelength frequencies (26) of the emitted light (24) comprise theemitted light (24) from one or more LEDs (29). One or more LEDs (29) canemit light (24) of a first color (5′), and one or more LEDs (29) canemit light of a second color (5″), wherein the second color (5″) isdifferent from the first color (5′). Similarly, one or more LEDs (29)can emit light of a third color (5′), a fourth color . . . color_(n). Toachieve the highest color rendering index (CRI), the LEDs (29) mayinclude LEDs (29) of various wavelength frequencies (26) that covervirtually the entire visible spectrum (VS). For example, arbitrary pairsof the LEDs (29) might emit four different colors of light R, G, B asprimary colors and a fourth color chosen to provide an increasedvariability of the color attributes (28) of the integrated light (24′).One or more white light emitters (23″), such as white LEDs, may also beincluded.

The control circuit (64) controls the power provided to each of the LEDs(29). The reflective interior surface (31) effectively combines theenergy of different wavelength frequencies (26) and wavelengthamplitudes (27), from the various LEDs (29) and the integrated light(24′) can be emitted through the optical aperture (36). Control of theintensity of light emitters by the control circuit (64) establishes thecolor attributes (28) (spectral characteristics) of the integrated light(24′) through the optical aperture (36) and the optical tube (55). Thefirst color detector (39) can detect color attributes (28) in theintegrated light (24′) within the shell interior space (35) of the lightemission integration shell (30). The first color detector (39) cangenerate a first detector signal (45′) which can be converted to colordata (45) by the controller (44) and transmitted by the electronic dataexchanger (46) to the server computer (13) or computing device (12) andconverted to a color (5) in the color space (6). The program (18) canfurther function to compare the color attributes (28) of the integratedlight (24′) within the shell interior space (35) of the light emissionintegration shell (30) to a color (5) selected by the user (19) by userindications (20) in the color space (6) depicted on the graphical userinterface (21). Thus, the hair color selector (7) can generateintegrated light (24′) at or proximate the optical tube second end (57)have color attributes (28) to which substantially match or match thecolor attributes (28) of a color (5) selected by user indications (20)in a color space (6) depicted in the graphical user interface (21) on acomputing device (12).

Now, with primary reference to FIGS. 10 through 20, fiber optic hairsample (8) can include a plurality of optical fibers (9). In particularembodiments, the plurality of optical fibers (9) ranges from about fiveoptical fibers (9) to about one hundred optical fibers (9); although agreater lesser number of optical fibers (9) can be included depending onthe embodiment. The optical fibers (9) within the plurality of opticalfibers (9), while typically being of equal length can be of unequallength. The plurality of optical fibers (9) can be disposed in anoptical fiber bundle (67). Each of the optical fiber bundles (67) canhave a bundle proximal end (68) formed by optical fiber first ends (69)of the plurality of optical fibers (9), a bundle distal end (70) formedby the optical fiber second ends (71) of the plurality of optical fibers(9), and a bundle longitudinal length (71) disposed between opticalfiber first and second ends (69)(71). The bundle proximal end (68) canbe securely mounted in a bundle holder (72) to produce the optical hairsample (8). The bundle proximal end (68) can be disposed within opticaltube (55) of the hair color selector (7) or integrated device (2, 7) toallow the diffusedly reflected integrated light (24′) passing throughthe optical aperture (36) from the light emission integration shell (30)to be to be incident upon the bundle proximal end (68) and transmittedto the bundle distal end (70) along the longitudinal length of theoptical fibers (9). The bundle proximal end (68) can be disposed at adistance (L) from the reflective interior surface (31) of the lightemission integration shell (30) such that the diffusedly reflectedintegrated light (24′) can be optimally collected at the bundle proximalend (68) and transmitted through the optical fibers (9) toward thebundle distal end (70). In particular embodiments, the bundle holder(72) can be configured to insert into the optical tube second end (57).The bundle holder (72) can be further configured to dispose the bundleproximal end (68) at the distance (D) from the reflective interiorsurface (31). In particular embodiments, the bundle holder (72) canfurther include bundle stop (73) on the bundle holder external surface(74). The bundle stop (73) can be disposed on the bundle holder externalsurface (74) to abut the hair color selector external surface (75) orthe integrated unit external surface (2, 7, 75) to dispose the bundleproximal end (68) at the distance (D) from the reflective interiorsurface (31).

In the example depicted by FIGS. 13 through 20, the bundle holder (72)has a cylindrical internal surface (76), and a cylindrical externalsurface (77) with the bundle stop (73) configured as an annular bundlestop (73′) extending circumferentially and radially outward of thebundle holder external surface (74). In particular embodiments, thebundle holder (72) configured as a cylinder can have an externaldiameter in the range about one quarter of an inch (about 6.3millimeters (“mm”)) to about one half of an inch (about 12.7 mm) and aninternal diameter of about three sixteenths inch (about 4.6 mm) to aboutthree eighths inch (about 9 mm). The optical tube second end (57) canhave a configuration to receive the bundle holder (72) with the bundlestop (73) abutting the hair selector external surface (75) or theintegrated unit external surface (2, 7, 75) to reduce light emissionthrough the unfilled space between the optical tube second end (57) andthe bundle holder (72). However, the illustrative example shown in theFigures is not intended to preclude embodiments of the optical hairsample (4) or bundle holder (72) or the optical fiber bundle (67) havingdifferent configurations that can be engaged with the optical tube (55)to deliver the integrated light (24′) on the bundle proximal end (68),such as: a truncated pyramid, a truncated cone, a square, a rectangular,an oval, lozenge, or the like.

Now, with primary reference to FIG. 12, the optical fiber (9) or each ofthe plurality of optical fibers (9) in the optical fiber bundle (67) cancomprise a flexible transparent cylindrical core (78) of glass orplastic surrounded by a flexible transparent or translucent clad (79)having a lower index of refraction than the core (78). The integratedlight (24′) incident on the bundle proximal end (68) can travels throughthe core (78) due to internal reflection at the core-clad boundary (80).The internal reflection at the core-clad boundary (80) can comprise atotal internal reflection in which substantially all the integratedlight (24′) received at the bundle proximal end (68) can be emitted atthe bundle distal end (70), partial internal reflection in which aportion of the integrated light (24′) received at the bundle proximalend (68) can be emitted through the optical fiber side (81) and aportion of the integrated light (24′) can be emitted at the bundledistal end (70), or substantially all of the integrated light (24′)received at the bundle proximal end (68) can be emitted through theoptical fiber side (81). Emission of the integrated light (24′) throughthe optical fiber side (81) can be greater or lesser depending upon therefractive index of the core (78) relative to the clad (79). Forexample, the core (78) can have a refractive index larger than that ofthe clad (79) (such as 0.01 to 0.2). If the refractive index is smallerthan this, the internal reflection of integrated light (24′) may beinsufficient at the core-cladding boundary (80) to function as aside-emission optical fiber (82). If the refractive index is larger thanthis, the reflection at the of integrated light (24′) may be too greatat the core-cladding boundary (80) and the integrated light (24′) maynot propagate to the bundle distal end (70) and the reflection may be togreat to function as an end-emission optical fiber (83). Additionally,the core (78) can taper between the optical fiber first end (69) and theoptical fiber second end (71) while the clad (79) can maintain asubstantially constant outer diameter. Here, the appropriate refractiveindex can be calculated by combining the angle and the refractive indexof the taper portion of the optical fiber (9) depending on the amount ofintegrated light (24′) to be emitted from the optical fiber side (81)and the longitudinal length of the optical fiber (9) between the opticalfiber first end (69) and the optical fiber second end (71). A suitableside-emission optical fiber (83) can be produced by forming the clad(79) from tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA)or a tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP) due to theexcellent transparency and ready extrusion of the material into atubular clad (79). Further, due to the excellent heat resistance andelongation properties of these materials, these materials are suitablefor injecting a thermosetting resin within the tubular clad (79) toestablish the core (78) therein. The thermosetting resin for the core(78) can comprise a thermosetting silicone resin; however, theseexamples of materials for the core (78) and the clad (79) are notintended to preclude the use of any type of materials for the core (78)and clad (79) which achieve the desired internal reflection andside-emittance of the integrated light (24′). The diameter of theoptical fiber (9) can be in the range of about 0.005 inches (about 0.13mm) to about 0.040 inches (about 1.0 mm); although optical fibers (9)having a greater or lesser diameter can be used. The tubular clad (79)can during the extrusion process be extruded along a path, or the opticfiber (9) can be heated and formed, to resemble the three-dimensionalshape of human or animal hair, for example, straight, waves, curls orcoils.

Now, referring primarily to FIGS. 1, 9 and 11, embodiments of the fiberoptic hair sample (8) can further include radio frequency identificationtag (“RFID”) (84) which can be encoded with digital data. The RFID tag(84) can include an antenna (85) coupled to a read only memory (86)(also referred to as a “EEPROM”) which can be erased and reprogrammedusing a pulsed voltage. As an illustrative example the RFID tag can benear-field communication tag (“NFC tag”) which communicates using theISO 14443A standard, and compatible with NFC Forum standards and ISO9001:2015 Quality Management and ISO 14001:2015 EnvironmentalManagement. Once the RFID tag (84) is in range of the magnetic field ofcomputing device (12) (such as a smartphone) or the hair color selector(7) (or the integrated unit (2, 7)), electrons in the antenna (85)produce a current. The current generated can be enough to power thecircuitry in RFID tag (84). The RFID tag (84) can function to pair withthe computing device (12) and transfer RFID data (87) from the read onlymemory (86) to the computing device (12), typically over the 13.56 MHzNFC transmission frequency at either 106, 212 or 424 Kbps. The RFID data(87) can include the fiber optic hair sample identification number (88)which can be correlated by the program (18) with fiber optic hair sampledata (89), such as, optical fiber structure (type of core (78), type ofclad (79), optical fiber diameter, optical fiber length, optical fiberform) which can be correlated with a selected color (5) in the colorspace (6) to adjust color attributes (28) of the integrated light (24′)to correspondingly achieve the color (5) in the illuminated opticalfibers (9), number of uses, users, date of manufacture, or the like.

In operation, a user (19) inserts the fiber optic hair sample (8) intothe hair color selector (7) or the integrated unit (2, 7). In theillustrative example, the bundle holder (72) can be inserted into thehair color selector (7), or integrated unit (2, 7) to receive theintegrated light (24′) on the bundle proximal end (68). The user (19)can then select a color (5) from the color space (6) and the program(18) can operate to convert the selected color (5) to color data (45)and cause the color data (45) to be transmitted to the controller (44)which correspondingly operates the control circuit (64) to deliver powerto the light emitter driver circuits (66). The power applied to each ofthe different light emitters (23) can be adjusted the wavelengthamplitude (27) for each different wavelength frequency (26) to establishthe color attributes (28) (spectral characteristics) of the integratedlight (24′) passing through the optical aperture (36) and the opticaltube (55). The color attributes (28) of the integrated light (24′)established by the controller (44) incident upon the bundle proximateend (68) and propagated toward the bundle second end (70) emits visiblelight from the optical fiber bundle (67) corresponding to the user (19)selected color (5). The fiber optic hair sample (8) emitting visiblelight of the user (19) selected color (5) allows the user (19) tovisualize the look and feel of a hair sample (4) of the selected color(5).

Now, with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 21 through 32, the hair coloranalyzer (2), the hair color selector (8), the hair colorant mixer (10)can be responsive to user indications (20) from one or more clientcomputing devices (12) directly or via the network (14) through theserver computer (13). A client computing device (12) can include aclient computing device processor (90) communicatively coupled to aclient computing device non-transitory computer readable media (91)containing computer executable instructions including in whole or inpart the program (18) to implement the functionalities of the clientcomputing device (12) in the system (1). The client computing device(12) can, as illustrative examples, be: a desktop computer device or amobile computer device, such as, personal computers, slate computers,tablet or pad computers, cellular telephones, personal digitalassistants, smartphones, programmable consumer electronics, orcombinations thereof. The program (18) accessed by or downloaded to theclient computing device (12) can allow a user (19) access to thefunctionalities of the system (1) whether on-line or off-line dependingon the application.

Again, with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 21 through 32, inparticular embodiments, the hair colorant selection and hair colorantformulation program (18) can be accessed by or downloaded from one ormore server computers (13) to the client computing device (12)(as shownin the flow diagram of FIG. 1) to confer all or a part of the functionsof the program (18) and the system (1) to the client computing device(12).

In particular embodiments, the program (18) can be executed tocommunicate with the server computer (13) over the network (14) tocoordinate operation of the client computing device (12) with operationof one or more of: the hair color analyzer (2) or the hair colorselector (7) (or the integrated unit (2, 7)), or the hair colorant mixer(10). However, this is not intended to preclude embodiments in which theprogram (18) may be contained on or loaded to the client computingdevice (13), the hair color analyzer (2) or the hair color selector (7)(or the integrated unit (2, 7)), or the hair colorant mixer (10) fromone or more of: a computer disk, universal serial bus flash drive, orother computer readable media. While embodiments of the program (18) maybe described in the general context of computer-executable instructionssuch as program modules which utilize routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, or the like, to perform particularfunctions or tasks or implement particular abstract data types, it isnot intended that any embodiments be limited to a particular set ofcomputer-executable instructions or protocols. Additionally, inparticular embodiments, while particular functionalities of the program(18) may be attributable to the server computer (13), the computingdevice (12), the hair color analyzer (2), the hair color selector (7)(or the integrated unit (2, 7)), or the hair colorant mixer (10); it isto be understood that embodiments may allow implementation of a functionby more than one device, or the function may be coordinated between morethan one device.

Now, with primary reference to FIG. 1, each of the one or more computingdevices (12) can, but need not necessarily, include an Internet browser(92) (also referred to as a “browser”), as illustrative examples:Microsoft's INTERNET EXPLORER®, GOOGLE CHROME®, MOZILLA®, FIREFOX®,which functions to download and render computing device contentformatted in “hypertext markup language” (HTML). In this environment,the one or more computer servers (13) can contain the program (18)including instructions to implement the most significant portions of oneor more graphical user interface(s)(21) including a combination of textand symbols to represent options selectable by user indications (20) toexecute the functions of the program (18). As to these embodiments, theone or more computing devices (12) can use the browser (86) to depictthe graphical user interface (21) and computing device content and torelay selected user indications (20) back to the one or more computerservers (13). The one or more computer servers (13) can respond byformatting additional content for the respective portions of thegraphical user interface (21) (as shown in the illustrative examples ofFIGS. 18 through 29 further described below).

Again, referring primarily to FIG. 1, in particular embodiments, the oneor more computer servers (13) can be used primarily as sources ofcomputing device content, with primary responsibility for implementingthe graphical user interface (21) being placed upon each of the one ormore computing devices (12). As to these embodiments, each of the one ormore computing devices (12) can download and run the appropriateportions of the program (18) implementing the corresponding functionsattributable to the client computing device (13).

Now, primary reference to FIGS. 21 through 32, the program (18) can inpart include computer instructions to implement and depict a graphicaluser (21) on the display surface (93) of the computing device (12) whichcorrespondingly allows a user (19) by user indications (20) in thegraphical user interface (21) to execute one or more functions of theprogram (18). The user indications (20) in the graphical user interface(21) execute one or more functions of the program (18), which userindications (20) as illustrative examples, can include: selection of oneor more control icon(s), entry of text into one or more fillable fields,voice command, keyboard stroke, mouse button point and click, touch on atouch screen, or otherwise, or combinations thereof (individually andcollectively referred to as a “user indications”).

Now referring primarily to FIGS. 1 and 21, embodiments of the program(18) can, but need not necessarily, include a signup module (94) whichupon execution depicts a sign up menu (95) which by user indications(20) allows the user (19) to create a user account (96) under which theuser (19) can be authenticated by the system (1) and correspondinglyreceive authorization to access resources provided by or connected tothe system (1) and access or load the program (18). The term “menu” forthe purposes of this invention means a list of options or commandspresented to the user (19) of the computing device (12). A menu mayeither be the entire graphical user interface (21), or only part of amore complex graphical user interface (21) and may include one menuimage or a plurality of images in which user indications (20) can bemade to activate the various functions of the program (18). The term“module” for the purposes of this invention means a component or part ofthe program (18) that contains one or more routines. One or more nodulesmake up the program (18).

Again, referring primarily to FIGS. 1 and 21, embodiments of the program(18) can, but need not necessarily, include a login module (97) whichupon execution depicts a login menu (98) which by user indications (20)allows the user (19) to log in to a user account (96). To login to auser account (96), a user (19) is typically required to authenticateoneself with a user name (99) and a password (100) or other credentials,such as fingerprint or facial recognition, for the purposes ofaccounting, security, and resource management.

Now, with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 22 through 32, embodiments ofthe program (18) can, but need not necessarily, include a setup module(102) which by user indications (20) allows default settings or valuesto be assigned to the program (18) or the computing device (12). Certainembodiments can, but need not necessarily, be provided with defaults orpresets which provide settings or values automatically assigned by or tothe program (18) outside of user (19) intervention. For the sake ofbrevity, the particular illustrative example depicted in FIGS. 19through 26, and further described below, include only one computingdevice (12); however, this not intended to preclude embodiments in whichthe operation of one computing device (12) coordinates the operation ofa plurality of computing devices (12) in a computer client-computeradministrator relationship within the system (1), or embodiments inwhich a first computing device (12′) and a second computing device(12″)) have respective operation coordinated by the system (1) in whichfirst and second computing devices (12′, 12″) have a relationship inwhich the program (18) functions are discretely allocated between thefirst and second computing device (12′, 12″), and in particular whereina client computing device (12′) and a service provider computing device(12″) are coordinated to provide a client-service provider relationship,such as between a customer computing device (12′) and a hair stylistcomputing device (12″).

Again, with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 22 through 32, inparticular embodiments in which a user (19) desires to have hair styledor the hair colored, a setup module (102) can function to display asetup menu (103) on the display surface (93) of the computing device(12) which, as an illustrative example, allows creation of a userprofile (104) by entry by user indications (20) to select one or morehair categories (105) including as illustrative examples: a hair length(106), a hair type (107), a hair thickness (108), a hair density (109),a hair porosity (110), a hair sheen (111), hair health (112), or otherhair categories (105) relevant to having the user's (19) hair styled orhaving user's (19) hair colored. A user profile (104) can be stored inthe computer server (13) or the computing device (12) including thedefault or user selected values for each hair category (105) which canbe subsequently exploited by the program (18) to control functions ofcomponents within the system (1) by correlation with the default or userselected hair category values (113) under a set of rules to achieve theuser's (19) selected hair color (5) selected within the color space (6)depicted in the graphical user interface (21).

Now, with primarily reference to FIGS. 22 through 29, in an illustrativeexample, user selection of each of the hair categories (105) canactivate the program (18) to correspondingly further depict setup menupages which allow by user indications (21) entry or selection ofcategory values (113) for each of the selected hair categories (105)including as examples: hair length (106) (short, medium, long or currentlength from the proximal end of the hair at the scalp to the distalterminal end of the hair) (example shown in FIG. 20); hair type (107)(straight, wavy, curly, coily)(example shown in FIG. 21); hair thickness(108) (diameter of an individual hair typically in a range of 0.04 mm to0.12 mm, or by selection of “Fine”, “Medium” or “Course” hair) (exampleshown in FIG. 22); hair density (109) (hairs growing on the head in onesquare inch, or by selection of “Low”, “Medium”, or “High” hairdensity)(example shown in FIG. 23); hair porosity (110) (“Low”,“Medium”, or “High”, in particular embodiments by float test) (exampleshown in FIG. 24); hair sheen (111) (by selection of “Gloss”,“Semigloss”, or “Matte”) (example shown in FIG. 25); hair health (112)(which can be selected or by slider in an incremented scale between“Unhealthy” and “Healthy”)(example shown in FIG. 26); however, theseillustrative examples are not intended to preclude depiction ofadditional or alternate hair categories or hair values which may relateto the hair of a user, or anatomical or physiological attributes of auser (19), such as, head shape, skin color or tone, eye color, facialhair, age, height or weight.

Again, with primary reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 22, in particularembodiments, the program (18) can further include a hair color analyzermodule (114) which functions to pair the computing device (12) with thehair color analyzer (2), whether automatically based on proximity to thehair color analyzer (2) or by user indications (20) in the graphicaluser interface (21), and as a above described the hair color analyzer(2) can be used to analyze a hair sample (4) to generate color data (45)which the program (18) can covert and match to a color (5) in a colorspace (6). The program (18) can the further function to depict ananalyzed hair color icon (115) (as shown in the example of FIG. 19 as asquare icon identified as “Analyzed Hair Color”) in the setup menu (103)of the color (5) matched in the color space (6) based on the color data(45) obtained by analyzing the hair sample (4). In particularembodiments, a plurality of hair color icons (115′, 115″ . . . 115 _(n))representing the analyzed hair color (116) can be correspondinglyreferenced to a first hair color analysis (116′) of a first hair sample(4′) (for example the hair proximate the hair root), a second hair coloranalysis (116″) of a second hair sample (4″) (for example the hairdistal from the hair root) . . . n hair color analysis (116 _(n)) of a nhair color samples (4 _(n)).

Now, with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 30 through 32, in particularembodiments, the program (18) can further include a color space module(117) which functions to depict in the setup menu (103) of the graphicaluser interface (21) a color space representation (118) of a color space(6) having a specific organization of colors (5) supported by the system(1). By user indications (20) in the color space representation (118), auser (19) can select a color (5) in the color space (6). While theillustrative example of the color space representation (118) shown inFIG. 27 comprises a color selection panel (119) depicting colors in anRGB color space in a 12×12 columns and line gradient color format; thisis not intended to preclude embodiments which depict other color spaces(6)(which can be interconverted) or depicted in other color spacerepresentations such as color space representation of a swatch book(118′)(as shown in the example of FIG. 28) a color wheel, color chips,color swatches, all of which can be converted to color data (45) by theprogram (18).

In particular embodiments, the program (118) can further depict one ormore incrementally scaled color attribute selectors (120) which by userindications (20) allow incremental selection of a color attribute (28)of a color (5), such as color brightness (121) (relative lightness ordarkness of a color hue), color saturation (122) (relative intensity ofcolor hue from grey tone), color opacity (123), color tone (124)(relative amount of grey added to a color hue), color tint (relativeamount of white added to a color hue), color shade (relative amount ofblack added to color hue). The illustrative example depicted in FIGS. 27through 29 allows the user (19) to adjust a color attributes (28) by useof a slider or track bar (125) having an indicator (126) movable in thetrack bar (125) between track endpoints (126′, 126″) to correspondinglyadjust a color attribute value (127); however, this illustrative exampleis not meant to preclude other graphical user interface elements toadjust color attributes (28) such a first click event to select a colorattribute and a second click event on a bullet in a scale (as shown inthe examples of FIGS. 27 through 29.

The program (18) can the further function to depict a selected haircolor icon (128) (depicted in FIG. 22 as a square icon (identified as“Selected Hair Color”) representing the selected hair color (129) in thesetup menu (103) having the color (5) matched in the color space (6)based on the color data (45) obtained by user indications (21) of acolor (5) in the color space representation (118) depicted in thegraphical user interface (21). In particular embodiments, a plurality ofselected hair color icons (128′, 128″ . . . 128 _(n)) can becorrespondingly referenced to a first selected color (129′), a secondselected color (129″) . . . n selected hair color (129 _(n)) to allowcomparison by the user (19).

Now, with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 22, the program (18) canfurther include a hair color selector module (130) which functions tocovert the selected color (129) to color data (45) and calibration data(131) and by operation of the electronic data exchanger (46) cantransmit the color data (45) and calibration data (131) to the haircolor selector (7) or integrated unit (2, 7). The controller (44) cancalibrate the light emitters (23) based on the calibration data (130)and can process the color data (45) and correspondingly control thepower to each of the light emitter drive circuits (66) to achieve thewavelength amplitude (27) for each different wavelength frequency (26)to generate the integrated light (24′) having the selected color (129)selected by the user (19) in the color space representation (118)depicted in the graphical user interface (21). The user (19) can theninsert the bundle holder (72) of the fiber optic hair sample (8) intothe hair color selector (7) or integrated unit (2, 7). Color attributes(28) (spectral characteristics) of the integrated light (24′)established by the controller (44) incident upon the bundle proximal end(68) and propagated toward the bundle distal end (70) of the fiber optichair sample (8) emits visible light from the optical fiber bundle (67)corresponding to the selected hair color (129). The fiber optic hairsample (8) emitting visible light of the selected hair color (129)allows the user (19) to visualize the look and feel of hair of theselected hair color (129).

Now, with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 22 through 29, in particularembodiments, the setup module (102) can further function to associatethe category values (113), analyzed hair color (116), selected haircolor (129), calibration data (131), color data (45), RFID data (87)with a user profile (104) or user account (96) which can be storedremotely in the server computer (13) or locally in the client computingdevice (12). The user profile (104) can be subsequently retrieved fromthe server computer (13) by the computing device (13) to populate thesetup menu (103) with a depiction of the analyzed hair color(s) (116),selected hair color (129) and hair category values (113), and which maythen be updated by operation of the program (18) based on subsequent useof the hair color analyzer (2), hair color selector (7), integrated unit(2, 7), or user indications (21) in the setup menu (103).

Now, with primary reference to FIG. 1, in particular embodiments, theserver computer (13) or computing device (12) can include or access ahair colorant database (137) including hair colorant constituents (132)used in the hair colorants (11) encompassed by the system (1). The haircolorant database (137) can be updated to add or remove hair colorantconstituents (132) used in hair colorants (11) encompassed by the system(1).

Four classes of hair color constituents (132) can be utilized inoxidative hair colorants (11): 1) primary intermediates (133); 2)oxidizing agents (134); 3) couplers (135); and 4) alkalinizing agents(136).

Primary intermediates (133) can be difunctional benzene derivativescapable of being oxidized with resultant development of color, asexamples: ortho- and para-phenylenediamines and para-aminophenols.Primary intermediates when oxidized form benzoquinoneimines that arereactive with a color-producing couplers. Suitable primary intermediatesfor use in the colorants encompassed by the system (1) can include oneor more of: o-phenylenediamine, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine,2-chloro-p-phenylenediamine, 2-iodo-p-phenylenediamine,4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine, 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine,1,3,5-triaminobenzene, 2-hydroxy-p-phenylenediamine, 2,4-diaminobenzoicacid, sodium 2,4-diaminobenzoate, calcium di-2,4-diaminobenzoate,ammonium 2,4-diaminobenzoate, trimethylammonium 2,4-, diaminobenzoate,tri-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium 2,4-diaminobenzoate, 2,4-diaminobenzaldehyde carbonate, 2,4-diaminobenzensulfonic acid, potassium2,4-diaminobenzenesulfonate, N,N-diisopropyl-p-phenylenediaminebicarbonate, N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine,N-ethyl-N′-(2-propenyl)-p-phenylenediamine, N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine,N-phenyl-N-benzyl-p-phenylenediamine,N-ethyl-N′-(3-ethylphenyl)-p-phenylenediamine, 2,4-toluenediamine,2-ethyl-p-phenylenediamine, 2-(2-bromoethyl)-p-phenylenediamine,2-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine laurate, 4-(2,5-diaminophenyl)-benzaldehyde,2-benzyl-p-phenylenediamine acetate,2-(4-nitrobenzyl)-p-phenylenediamine,2-(4-methylphenyl)-p-phenylenediamine,2-(2,5-diaminophenyl)-5-methylbenzoic acid, methoxyparaphenylenediamine,dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine, 2,5-dimethylparaphenylene-diamine,2-methyl-5-methoxy-para-phenylenediamine,2,6-methyl-5-methoxy-para-phenylenediamine,3-methyl-4-amino-N,N-diethylaniline,N,N-bis(3-hydroxyethyl)-para-phenylenediamine,3-methyl-4-amino-N,N-bis(3-hydroxyethyl)aniline,3-chloro-4-amino-N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)aniline,4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(carbamethyl)aniline,3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(carbamethyl)aniline,4-amino-N-ethyl-(3-piperidonoethyl)aniline,3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-(piperidonoethyl)aniline,4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(morpholinoethyl)aniline,3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(3-mopholinoethyl)aniline,4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(acetylaminoethyl)aniline,4-amino-N-(methoxyethyl)aniline,3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(acetylaminoethyl)aniline,4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(J-mesylaminoethyl)aniline,3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(3-mesylaminoethyl)aniline,4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(sulphoethyl)aniline,3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(sulphoethyl)aniline,N-(4-aminophenyl)-morpholine, N-(4-aminophenyl)piperidine,2,3-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine, isopropyl-p-phenylenediamine,N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-p-phenylenediamine sulphate, o-aminophenol,m-aminophenol, p-aminophenol, 2-iodo-p-aminophenol,2-nitro-p-aminophenol, 3,4-dihydroxyaniline, 3,4-diaminophenolchloroacetate, 2-hydroxy-4-aminobenzoic acid,2-hydroxy-4-aminobenzaldehyde, 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid,N,N-diisopropyl-p-aminophenol, N-methyl-N-(1-propenyl)-p-aminophenol,N-phenyl-N-benzyl-p-aminophenol sulphate,N-methyl-N-(3-ethylphenyl)-p-aminophenol, 2-nitro-5-ethyl-p-aminophenol,2-nitro-5-(2-bromoethyl)-p-aminophenol,(2-hydroxy-5-aminophenyl)acetaldehyde, 2-methyl-p-aminophenol,(2-hydroxy-5-aminophenyl)acetic acid,3-(2-hydroxy-5-aminophenyl)-1-propene,3-(2-hydroxy-5-aminophenyl)-2-chloro-1-propene, 2-phenyl-p-aminophenolpalmitate, 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-p-aminophenol, 2-benzyl-p-aminophenol,2-(4-chlorobenzyl-p-aminophenol perchlorate,2-(4-methylphenyl)-p-aminophenol,2-(2-amino-4-methylphenyl)-p-aminophenol, p-methoxyaniline,2-bromoethyl-4-aminophenyl ether phosphate, 2-nitroethyl-4-aminophenylether bromide, 2-aminoethyl-4-aminophenyl ether,2-hydroxyethyl-4-aminophenyl ether, (4-aminophenoxy)acetaldehyde,(4-aminophenoxy)acetic acid, (4-aminophenoxy)methanesulfonic acid,l-propenyl-4-aminophenyl ether isobutyrate,(2-chloro)-1-propenyl-4-aminophenyl ether,(2-nitro)-1-propenyl-4-aminophenyl ether,(2-amino)-propenyl-4-aminophenyl ether,(2-hydroxy)-1-propenyl-4-aminophenyl ether, N-methyl-p-aminophenol,3-methyl-4-aminophenol, 2-chloro-4-aminophenol, 3-chloro-4-aminophenol,2,6-dimethyl-4-aminophenol, 3,5-dimethyl-4-aminophenol,2,3-dimethyl-4-aminophenol, 2,5-dimethyl-4-aminophenol,2-hydroxymethyl-4-aminophenol, 3-hydroxymethyl-4-aminophenol,2,6-dichloro-4-aminophenol, 2,6-dibromo-4-aminophenol, and2-bromo-4-aminophenol.

Oxidizing agents (134), typically hydrogen peroxide, although persaltsof various acids or solid organic peroxide adducts may be utilized, areresponsible for oxidation of the primary intermediates (133) to formbenzoquinoneimines. Oxidizing agents (134) can also lighten the naturalpigments present in a hair sample (4), the melanins, eumelanins, andpheonelanins.

Couplers (135) contain a strong electron donating group which byreaction with electrophilic benzoquinoneimines form the color of thehair colorant (11). Thus, any aromatic compound having an amino orhydroxy group and an unblocked para position can react with abenzoquinoneimine to produce the color of the hair colorant (11).However, anilines and most monohydric phenols are usually insufficientlyreactive to compete with the self-coupling reactions of the primaryintermediates (133) under hair dyeing conditions. For this reason,couplers (135) are phenols or anilines bearing a second strong electrondonor in the meta position. Suitable primary intermediates for use inthe colorants encompassed by the system (1) can include one or more of:5-amino-2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenol,5-amino-2-{[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]methyl}phenol,5-amino-2-(morpholinomethyl)phenol, 5-amino-2-(pyrrolidinomethyl)phenol,5-amino-2-(aminomethyl)phenol,5-dimethylamino-2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenol,5-dimethylamino-2-(pyrrolidinomethyl)phenol,5-acetamido-2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenol, m-phenylenediamines, suchas 2,4-diaminoanisole and 2,4-diaminophenoxyethanol, otherm-aminophenols, such as m-aminophenol, 5-amino-2-methylphenol,5-(N-2-hydroxyethylamino)-2-methylphenol,2-methyl-5-carbamylmethylaminophenol, and 5-amino-2,6-dimethylphenol,m-acetamidophenols, such as 5-acetamido-2-methylphenol, m-ureidophenols,resorcinols, and heterocyclic couplers, such as6-hydroxybenzomorpholine, 2,6-diaminopyrridine, and1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazolone, m-phenylenediamine, m-aminophenol,m-dihydroxybenzene, resorcinol, 4-chlororesorcinol, 2-methylresorcinol,alpha-naphthol, dihydroxynaphthalene, p-nitro-o-phenylenediamine,4-amino-3-nitrophenol, and 6-chloro-4-vitro-2-aminophenol and theiracid, especially hydrochloride salts.

Colorant-forming reactions are carried out at alkaline pH andalkalinizing agents (136) can included in the hair colorant (11).Typically, the alkalinizing agent (136) comprises ammonia; however,suitable alkalizing agents (136) for use in hair colorants (11)encompassed by the system (1) can include one or more of: ammonia; alkylamines, such as ethylamine and tri-ethylamine; alkanolamines, such asmono-, di-, and tri-ethanolamine; ammonia derivatives; hydroxides ofsodium or potassium; carbonates of sodium or potassium; ammoniumhydroxide; ethylamine; dipropylamine; triethylamine; alkanediamines,such as 1,3-diaminopropane; anhydrous alkaline alkanolamines, such asmono- or di-ethanolamine, preferably those which are completelysubstituted on the amine group, such as dimethylaminoethanol;polyalkylene polyamines, such as diethylenetriamine; heterocyclicamines, such as morpholine; hydroxides of alkali metals, such as sodiumand potassium hydroxide; hydroxides of alkali earth metals, such asmagnesium and calcium hydroxide; basic amino acids such as L-arginine,lysine, oxy-lysine and histidine; and compounds that form HCO₃ bydissociation in water including: Na₂CO₃, NaHCO₃, K₂CO₃, KHCO₃,(NH₄)₂CO₃, NH4HCO3, CaCO₃ and Ca(HCO₃-)₂.

Hair colorants (11) encompassed by the system (1) can further includeone or more adjuvants such as fragrances, antioxidants (such as: sodiumsulfite and sodium thioglycolate), and sequestering agents such as EDTA,stabilizing agents such as salicylic acid), emulsifiers, surfactants andwaxes, oils and quaternary conditioners depending on the product type.

Generally, the coupler (135) to primary intermediate (133) molar ratiocan be from about 0.1:1 to about 10:1, preferably from about 1:1 toabout 4:1. To obtain the selected hair color (129), the hair colorant(11) can contain one or more primary intermediates (133), and cancontain one or more couplers (135). This combination can then be admixedwith one or more oxidizing agents (134), typically hydrogen peroxide, 10vol (3% hydrogen peroxide), 20 vol (6% hydrogen peroxide), 30 vol (9%hydrogen peroxide) or 40 vol (12% hydrogen peroxide) and adjusted byaddition of one more alkalinizing agents (136) to a pH of between about7.0 to about 11.0. Upon mixing with the oxidizing agent (134), theprimary intermediate(s)(133) can be oxidized and thereafter react withthe coupler(s) (135) at alkaline pH to provide the hair colorant (11).After mixing, the hair colorant (11) can be applied to the hair (22)from about 5 minutes to about 60 minutes, more typically, between about20 minutes and about 45 minutes.

A prominent concern in coloring hair (22) can be that the color (5) ofthe hair colorant (11) obtained by mere admixture of the primaryintermediates (133) and the couplers (135) under oxidative conditions atsuitable pH may not necessarily be same as the resulting hair color(138) obtained when used to actually color the hair (22). Theproportions and amounts of the several hair colorant constituents (132)in the hair colorant (11) will depend on various hair colorant factorsincluding one or more of: 1) the analyzed hair color (116) determined bythe hair color analyzer (2) and depicted by the analyzed hair color icon(115) in the setup menu (103); 2) the selected hair color (129) throughuser indications (20) in the color space representation (118) depictedin the setup menu (103) and by the selected hair color icon (128); 3)the hair category values (113) entered by user indications (20) into thehair categories (105) depicted in the setup menu (103) other haircolorant constituents (132) used in or with the hair colorant (11).

In particular embodiments, the program (18) utilizes a set of rules(139) that determines an output hair colorant formula (140). The program(18) can be configured with a set of rules (139) that have acorrespondence between the analyzed hair color (116) of a hair sample(4) determined by the hair color analyzer (2) and a ratio of theunderlying pigments (141) in the analyzed hair sample (4) that expressthe analyzed hair color (116); and between the ratio of the underlyingpigments (141) in the hair sample (4) and a ratio of primaryintermediates (133) and a ratio of couplers (135) in the hair colorant(11) which when combined with the ratio of underlying pigments (141) inthe hair (22) will generate the selected hair color (129) depicted bythe selected hair color icon (128) in the graphical user interface (21).

The ratio of underlying pigments (141) determined by correspondence toanalyzed hair color (116) determined by the hair color analyzer (2) canbe due to natural color of the hair sample (4) (whether the hair sample(4) does not contain prior applied hair colorant (11) or because thehair colorant (11) in the hair (22) has been removed by a hair colorant(11) removal product) or due to hair colorant (11) in the hair (22).

A substantial advantage of using the inventive hair color analyzer (2)can be that the analyzed hair color (116) of the hair sample (4) can bedetermined by the color attributes (28) of the reflected light (24″) incontext of a continuous visible spectrum (VS) of emitted light (24)which can be then be converted by operation of the program (18) to ananalyzed hair color (116) in a corresponding continuous range of colors(5) in a color space (6), or an analyzed hair color (116) in a finelyincremented range of colors (5) in a color space (6). The analyzed haircolor (116) can be made by the hair color analyzer (2) with an accuracyor precision that cannot be accomplished by the unaided eye or bymatching in the conventional hair color level system or internationalcolor chart. Accordingly, by operation of the set of rules (139) of theprogram (18), the analyzed hair color (116) can be correlated to a ratioof underlying pigments (141) that more closely express the analyzed haircolor (116) in a hair sample (4). The determined ratio of underlyingpigments (141) can be made with an accuracy or precision that cannot beaccomplished by manual matching of the analyzed hair color (116) toconventional color charts or color wheels to identify the underlyingpigments (141) contained in the hair sample (4).

Similarly, the program (18) can further operate under the set of rules(139) to correlate the ratio of underlying pigments (141) in an analyzedhair sample (116) to a ratio of primary intermediates (133) and a ratioof couplers (135) which can react to develop color in a hair colorant(11), that in combination with the ratio of underlying pigments (141) inthe analyzed hair sample (4), affords the selected hair color (129)prior selected by the user (19) in the color space representation (118)depicted in the graphical user interface (21).

Similarly, in particular embodiments, the program (18) can furtheroperate under the set of rules (139) to determine a level of difference(142) between the analyzed hair color (116) and the selected hair color(129). In the conventional “level system,” level 1 hair color meansblack and level 10 hair color means the absence of all pigments. If thehair sample (4) equated to level 5 and the selected hair color is alevel 8, then it is said to have 3 levels of lift. In the instantinventive system (1), the level of difference between the analyzed haircolor (116) of the hair sample (4) and the selected hair color (129) canbe determined based on comparison of the analyzed color (116) and theselected hair color (129) to a continuous spectrum of color (5) in thecolor space (6). The program (18) can correlate the level of difference(142) to the concentration of the oxidizing agent (134) in the admixtureof the primary intermediates (133) and the couplers (135) in the haircolorant (11). In the first instance, the concentration of the oxidizingagent (134) must be sufficient to oxidize the primary intermediates(133) to allow reaction with the couplers (135) in the hair colorant(11). In the second instance, the concentration of the oxidizing agent(134) may be used to open the hair cuticle to allow the hair colorant(11) to penetrate deeper into the hair (22). In the third instance, theconcentration of oxidizing agent (134) can remove underlying pigments(141) in the hair (22) which results a lighter selected hair color(129).

A substantial advantage to the using the inventive hair color analyzer(2) and hair color selector (7)(or integrated unit (2, 7) can be thatthe level of difference (142) between the analyzed hair color (116) andthe selected hair color (129) can be determined with greater accuracy orprecision which allows greater accuracy or precision in the determinedconcentration of oxidizing agent (134) to be admixed to the primaryintermediates (133) and couplers (135). In particular embodiments, theprogram (18) can further correlate the hair porosity (110) or the hairthickness (108)(or both) entered into the setup menu (103) with thelevel of difference (142) between the analyzed hair color (116) and theselected hair color (129), to increase or decrease the concentration ofthe oxidizing agent (134) in the hair colorant (11).

Similarly, the program (18) can operate to determine a concentration ofan alkalinizing agent (136) in the hair colorant (11), in the firstinstance, to achieve a neutral or alkaline pH (typically between 7.0 pHand 11.0 pH) of the hair colorant (11). In a second instance, thedetermined concentration of the alkalinizing agent (136) can be adjustedto swell the hair (22) sufficiently to achieve greater penetration ofthe hair colorant (11), and in the third instance, the determinedconcentration can be adjusted to assist the oxidizing agent (134) inswelling the hair (22) to allow removal of the underlying hair pigments(141) in the hair (22) to lighten the hair.

Accordingly, the program (18) follows a set of rules (139) whichcorrelates the analyzed hair color (116) and the selected hair color(129) to determine the concentration of the particular primaryintermediates (133), couplers (135) and oxidizing agent (134) in thevolume of the admixture of the hair colorant (11) and the correspondingamount of a particular alkalinizing agent (136) required to achieve aneutral or alkaline pH of the volume of the hair colorant (11). Theprogram (18) can then correlate the level of difference (142) betweenthe analyzed hair color (116) and the selected hair color (129) toadjust the concentration of alkalinizing agent (141) in the haircolorant (11) depending upon whether the level of difference (142)comprises a small or large level of difference. The program (18) canalso correlate the concentration of the alkalinizing agent (136) in thehair colorant (11) to the hair thickness (108) or hair porosity (110)(or both) entered by the user (19) into the setup menu (103).

The correlations made by the program (18) can then be further processedto produce a hair colorant formula (140). The hair colorant formula(140) can be further associated with computer implementable instructionswhich can be matched with the individual hair color constituents (132)(whether as raw materials such as particular primary intermediates(133); oxidizing agents (134); couplers (135), alkalinizing agents(136), or a manufacturer's standardized component) and the amount ofeach of the hair colorant constituents (132) in a hair colorant (11)(whether by volume or weight, or both). The program (18) can function todepict the hair colorant formula (140) in the graphical user interface(21) (as shown in the example of FIG. 22). The hair color constituents(132) can, but need not necessarily, be combined manually by the user(19) or the hair colorant formula (140) can be delivered to a colorantmixer (10).

Now with primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 33, in particular embodiments,the system (1) can further comprise a colorant mixer (10) including oneor more of: a hair colorant mixer controller (143), a hair colorantmixer electronic data exchanger (144) and a hair colorant mixer displaysurface (145). The hair colorant mixer (10) can, but need notnecessarily, be communicatively coupled to the server computer (13) or acomputing device (12) to receive the hair colorant formula (140)generated by operation of the program (18), or a user (19) can by userindications (20) enter the hair colorant formula (140) into a haircolorant mixer user interface (146) depicted on the hair colorant mixerdisplay surface (145).

The colorant mixer (10) can store the hair colorant formula (140) in acolorant mixer non-transitory media (147) and by further operation ofthe colorant mixer controller (143) process the hair colorant formula(140) and correspondingly control the colorant mixer (10), based on thehair colorant formula (140), to mete out or apportion by measure thehair colorant constituents (132) of the hair colorant (11), includingone or more of the primary intermediates (133); oxidizing agents (134);couplers (135), alkalinizing agents (136), or other constituents (132)of the hair colorant (11) which can be combined to afford a haircolorant (11) useful to dye the hair (22) having the analyzed hair color(116) to achieve the selected hair color (129) depicted by the selectionhair color icon (128) in the setup menu (103).

Embodiments of the colorant mixer (10) can include a plurality ofvessels (148) each having a configuration suitable to contain a haircolorant constituent (132), such as particular primary intermediates(133); oxidizing agents (134); couplers (135), alkalinizing agents(136), or a manufacturer's standardized component, or other constituents(132), or combinations thereof. Each of the plurality of vessels (148)can be connected to a conduit (149) defining a flow path between one ormore of the plurality of vessels (148) and a collection container (150).In particular embodiments, each of the plurality of vessels (148) can beconnected to the collection container (150) by a discrete conduit (149),while in other embodiments, a furcated conduit portion (151) can connecteach of a plurality of vessels (148) to a common conduit portion (152)defining a flow path to the collection container (150). Each of thediscrete conduits (149) or each furcated conduit portion (151) canfurther include a vessel valve (153) switchable between a valve closedcondition interrupting delivery of a hair colorant constituent (132)contained the corresponding one of the plurality of vessels (148)through the flow path and an open condition allowing delivery of a haircolorant constituent (132) contained in the corresponding one of theplurality of vessels (148) through the flow path to the collectioncontainer (150). As shown in the illustrative example of FIG. 33, thevessel valve (153) can comprise a rotary valve (153′); although othertypes of vessel valves (153) can be employed which can afford open andclosed conditions to configure a flow path from each of the plurality ofvessels (148) and the collection container (150).

In particular embodiments, each of the plurality of vessels (148) can befluidically connected to individual or a common pressure source (154). Ahair colorant constituent (132) contained in a vessel (148) can bedelivered to the flow path under pressure. As illustrative examples, agas head pressure (155) can be developed in each vessel (148) (which canbe nitrogen or argon to maintain purity of the hair colorant constituent(132)) to exert sufficient force to overcome the counteractingatmospheric pressure in the conduit (149) and generating a flow of thehair colorant constituent (132) from the vessel (148) to the collectioncontainer (150), or gas pressure or mechanical pressure can be exertedon an external surface of a flexible vessel reducing the vessel volumesufficiently to generate a flow of the component from the vessel to thecollection container, or mechanical pressure can be exerted on the haircolorant constituent by operation of a piston or diaphragm within thevessel reducing vessel volume sufficiently to generate a flow of thehair colorant constituent (132) from the vessel (148) to the collectioncontainer (150); however, these illustrative examples of generating flowof a hair colorant constituent (133, 134, 135, 136) from a vessel (148)to a collection container (150) are not intended to preclude otherstructures or methods of generating a flow of a hair colorantconstituent (132) between a vessel (148) and a collection container(150).

In particular embodiments, the color mixer (10) can, but need notnecessarily, include a scale (156) responsive to the weight of thecollection container (150). The color mixer controller (143), or theprogram (18) under control of the server (13) or client computer (12),can correlate a change in weight of the collection container (150) dueto delivery of a hair colorant constituent (132) to an amount of thehair colorant constituent (132) delivered to the collection container(150). See for example, DE4113454A1 hereby incorporated by referenceherein.

In other embodiments, one or more volumetric conduit loops (157), eachdefining a flow path of known volume, can by operation of correspondingvessel valves (153) and conduit loop valves (158) and waste containervalve (158) afford a flow path between a vessel (148) and a wastecontainer (160). One or more of the volumetric conduit loops (157) canbe filled with a hair colorant constituent (132, 133, 134, 135, 136) toafford a known volume of the hair colorant constituent (132) within thefilled volumetric conduit loops (157). The filled volumetric conduitloop(s)(157), can by operation of the corresponding vessel valve (153)(to the closed condition), operation of the conduit loop valves (158)(to the open condition), and delivery of gas pressure to the filledvolumetric conduit loops (157) deliver the measured volume of the haircolorant constituent (132) from the filled volumetric conduit loops(157) to the collection container (150). See as an illustrative example,U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,568 hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Based on the hair color formulation (140) received by the colorant mixer(10), the colorant mixer controller (143) can execute the program (18)to operate the appropriate vessel valves (153), volumetric conduit loopvalves (158), waste container valve (159), or other valves to fill oneor more of the volumetric conduit loops (157), concurrently or inseries, and to deliver a measured volume of each hair colorantconstituent (132) to the collection container (150) as required by thehair colorant formula (140) to produce the hair colorant (11) that canbe applied to the hair (22) having the analyzed hair color (116) toachieve the selected hair color (129) in the hair (22).

As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts ofthe present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. Theinvention involves numerous and varied embodiments of a hair colorantselection and formulation system and methods for making and using suchhair colorant selection and formulation system.

As such, the particular embodiments or elements of the inventiondisclosed by the description or shown in the figures or tablesaccompanying this application are not intended to be limiting, butrather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments genericallyencompassed by the invention or equivalents encompassed with respect toany particular element thereof. In addition, the specific description ofa single embodiment or element of the invention may not explicitlydescribe all embodiments or elements possible; many alternatives areimplicitly disclosed by the description and figures.

It should be understood that each element of an apparatus or each stepof a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Suchterms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitlybroad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example,it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed asan action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causesthat action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed asthe physical element or the action which that physical elementfacilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of a “hair coloranalyzer” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of“analyzing hair color”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and,conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “analyzinghair color”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompassdisclosure of a “hair color analyzer” and even a “means for analyzinghair color.” Such alternative terms for each element or step are to beunderstood to be explicitly included in the description.

In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unlessits utilization in this application is inconsistent with suchinterpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood to beincluded in the description for each term as contained in the RandomHouse Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definitionhereby incorporated by reference.

All numeric values herein are assumed to be modified by the term“about”, whether or not explicitly indicated. For the purposes of thepresent invention, ranges may be expressed as from “about” oneparticular value to “about” another particular value. When such a rangeis expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular valueto the other particular value. The recitation of numerical ranges byendpoints includes all the numeric values subsumed within that range. Anumerical range of one to five includes for example the numeric values1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, and so forth. It will be furtherunderstood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant bothin relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the otherendpoint. When a value is expressed as an approximation by use of theantecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular valueforms another embodiment. The term “about” generally refers to a rangeof numeric values that one of skill in the art would consider equivalentto the recited numeric value or having the same function or result.Similarly, the antecedent “substantially” means largely, but not wholly,the same form, manner or degree and the particular element will have arange of configurations as a person of ordinary skill in the art wouldconsider as having the same function or result. When a particularelement is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent“substantially,” it will be understood that the particular element formsanother embodiment.

Moreover, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “a” or“an” entity refers to one or more of that entity unless otherwiselimited. As such, the terms “a” or “an”, “one or more” and “at leastone” can be used interchangeably herein.

Further, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “coupled”or derivatives thereof can mean indirectly coupled, coupled, directlycoupled, connected, directly connected, or integrated with, dependingupon the embodiment.

Additionally, for the purposes of the present invention, the term“integrated” when referring to two or more components means that thecomponents (i) can be united to provide a one-piece construct, amonolithic construct, or a unified whole, or (ii) can be formed as aone-piece construct, a monolithic construct, or a unified whole. Saidanother way, the components can be integrally formed, meaning connectedtogether so as to make up a single complete piece or unit, or so as towork together as a single complete piece or unit, and so as to beincapable of being easily dismantled without destroying the integrity ofthe piece or unit.

Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) thehair colorant selection and formulation system herein disclosed anddescribed, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii)similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of thesedevices and methods, iv) those alternative embodiments which accomplisheach of the functions shown, disclosed, or described, v) thosealternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functionsshown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed anddescribed, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate andindependent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the varioussystems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products producedby such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantiallyas described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanyingexamples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of theprevious elements disclosed.

The background section of this patent application, if any, provides astatement of the field of endeavor to which the invention pertains. Thissection may also incorporate or contain paraphrasing of certain UnitedStates patents, patent applications, publications, or subject matter ofthe claimed invention useful in relating information, problems, orconcerns about the state of technology to which the invention is drawntoward. It is not intended that any United States patent, patentapplication, publication, statement or other information cited orincorporated herein be interpreted, construed or deemed to be admittedas prior art with respect to the invention.

The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are herebyincorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention,and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or aportion of such incorporated content of such claims as additionaldescription to support any of or all of the claims or any element orcomponent thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves theright to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of suchclaims or any element or component thereof from the description into theclaims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for whichprotection is sought by this application or by any subsequentapplication or continuation, division, or continuation-in-partapplication thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in feespursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations ofany country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shallsurvive during the entire pendency of this application including anysubsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part applicationthereof or any reissue or extension thereon. The elements following anopen transitional phrase such as “comprising” may in the alternative beclaimed with a closed transitional phrase such as “consistingessentially of” or “consisting of” whether or not explicitly indicatedthe description portion of the specification.

Additionally, the claims set forth in this specification, if any, arefurther intended to describe the metes and bounds of a limited number ofthe preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construedas the broadest embodiment of the invention or a complete listing ofembodiments of the invention that may be claimed. The applicant does notwaive any right to develop further claims based upon the description setforth above as a part of any continuation, division, orcontinuation-in-part, or similar application.

1. A method of making an apparatus, comprising: disposing an opticaltube having an optical tube first end and an optical tube second end inspatial relation to at least one light emitter to transmit emitted lightto said optical tube second end; disposing a light receiving tube havinga light receiving tube first end and a light receiving tube second endin said optical tube to receive said visible light reflected from asubstrate disposed at said optical tube second end; and disposing afirst color detector in said light receiving tube to detect said visiblelight reflected from said substrate disposed at said optical tube secondend.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing said atleast one light emitter which emits visible light within a shell havinga reflective interior surface.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising connecting a base having an optical aperture to said shell;connecting said optical tube to said base to orient an internal hollowdelimited by said optical tube to overlap said optical aperture.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising configuring said optical tube todeliver said visible light onto said substrate at an angle theta.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising coupling at least one lightemitter driver circuit to said at least one light emitter, said at leastone light emitter driver circuit delivers power to said at least onelight emitter to emit said visible light.
 6. The method of claim 5,further comprising selecting said at least one light emitter to emitvisible light having a full spectrum or broad spectrum.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, further comprising connecting a controller to said at least onelight emitter driver circuit to control emission of said visible lightfrom said at least one light emitter.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising coupling to said first color detector a non-transitorycomputer readable memory containing a program code executable to convertcolor data generated by said first color detector to a color in a colorspace.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising forming saidsubstrate with a hair sample.
 10. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising orienting a second color detector relative to said shell todetect light reflected from said reflective interior surface of saidshell.
 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing saidprogram code executable to determine a ratio of underlying pigments insaid hair sample based on said color data generated by said first colordetector.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing saidprogram code executable to, based on said determination of said ratio ofunderlying pigments in said hair sample, provide an analyzed hair colorof said hair sample.
 13. The method of claim 9, further comprisingproviding said program code executable to provide an analyzed hair colorbased on said color data
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprisingproviding said program code executable to allow user to select a haircolor by selection of said color in said color space.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising providing said program code executable toapply a set of rules based on said analyzed hair color and said selectedcolor to generate a hair colorant formula of a hair colorant which whenapplied to said analyzed hair color results in said selected hair color.16. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing said programcode executable to correlate said ratio of underlying pigmentsassociated with said analyzed hair color to a ratio of primaryintermediates and a ratio of couplers in a hair colorant which uponreaction and in combination with said ratio of underlying pigmentsassociated with said analyzed hair color results in said selected haircolor.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing saidprogram code executable to determine a level of difference between saidanalyzed hair color and said selected hair color.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising providing said program code executable tocorrelate said level of difference to a concentration of an oxidizingagent to admix with said ratio of primary intermediates and said ratioof couplers in said hair colorant.
 19. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising providing said program code executable to, in accordance withsaid set of rules, to determine a concentration of an alkalinizing agentto admix with said hair colorant containing said concentration of saidoxidizing agent and said ratio of primary intermediates and said ratioof couplers to achieve a neutral or alkaline pH of said hair colorant.20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing said programcode executable to match said hair colorant formula to an amount of eachof said primary intermediates, said couplers, said oxidizing agent orsaid alkalinizing agents, and combinations thereof.